[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Defra UK; Welcome to the ERDP

By the end of 2002, the ERDP had supported...

9,307 new agri-environment agreements covering over 420,000 hectares of countryside
the conversion of 79,186 hectares of land to organic production
the management of 109,585 hectares of new woodland under approved schemes
845 rural economy projects with a total value of £55,760,941
the creation or safeguarding of 5,144 full time equivalent jobs under the Processing and Marketing Grant and the Rural Enterprise Scheme
the provision of 35,109 training days under the Vocational Training Scheme

The England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) contributes to the delivery of the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food by helping farmers and foresters to respond better to consumer requirements and become more competitive, diverse, flexible and environmentally responsible. It also provides help to rural businesses and communities which need to adapt and develop.

The ERDP provides a framework for the operation of 10 separate but integrated schemes which provide new opportunities to protect and improve the countryside, to develop sustainable enterprises and to help rural communities to thrive. A total of £1.6 billion of EU and Government money is being made available under these schemes in England during the 7 years (2000-2006) of the Programme

Latest News

A new area of the ERDP website showing England Rural Development Programme activity in your area is now available. You can visit the ERDP in your region page here, or go directly to your region by clicking the links below:-

Farm Woodland Schemes

The Forestry Commission and Defra recently carried out jointly a policy review of woodland creation in England under the Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. The review was informed by the work of an independent Steering Group comprising representatives drawn from a cross-section of the main stakeholder organisations. The Steering Group reported to the Forestry Commission and Defra in November 2002. The response of the Forestry Commission and Defra to the Steering Group’s report

[629Kb] was published in April 2003.

Following the above reviews, a public consultation exercise on a new English Woodland Grant Scheme is now in progress. Comments are requested if at all possible by 31 December 2003, but with a final deadline of 14 January 2004. The new scheme is intended to replace the Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, probably with effect from 2005.

Mid-term evaluation

As required by the EU under EC Regulation 1257/1999, the ERDP is undergoing a mid-term evaluation. The evaluation will involve analysis of a wide range of environmental, social and economic indicators to determine the impacts of the ERDP in rural areas. The evaluators will be required to analyse and review existing rural data, academic reseach, surveys, ERDP scheme reviews and evaluations as well as new data collection including surveys and geographical information systems analysis. [More]

For information about the Rural Development Plans of other European Countries visit the European Union website.

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is the Government's main scheme for conserving and improving the countryside.

Under the scheme, farmers are paid grants to follow more traditional farming methods that enhance the landscape, encourage wildlife and protect historical features.

Areas under Stewardship have seen a marked increase in previously declining bird species, including the stone curlew, cirl bunting, bittern, lapwing, reed bunting, greenfinch, pipit, twite, and wagtail.

Over 1000 miles of dry stone walls and over 9,000 miles of hedgerow have been restored, and around 16,500 miles of grass margins have been established in intensive arable farming areas.

Further information on scheme uptake is now available on the Countryside Stewardship scheme web pages. Over the period 2000-2006 Defra expects to make £500m available under Countryside Stewardship. [More]

Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme

The ESA scheme was introduced in 1987 to encourage farmers to help protect those areas of the countryside where the landscape, wildlife or historic interest is of national importance. The scheme involves farmers voluntarily entering into 10 year management agreements with defra, under which they receive an annual payment on each hectacre of land. For instance, around a quarter of the South Downs is part of the scheme, with over 240 agreements in place there, and covering 26 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. [More]

Organic Farming Scheme

The Organic farming scheme now offers two types of payments . Funding for the OFS totals 140m over the lifetime of the ERDP. Farmers in West Sussex have recieved £800,000 in aid under the OFS over the past three years. [More]

The Vocational Training Scheme

The Vocational Training Scheme offers grants of up to 75% of eligible costs for training that contributes to an improvement in the occupational skills of farmers and others involved in forestry and farming activities and their conversion. An external consultation on proposed improvements to increase uptake of the Vocational Training Scheme is planned for April following the Policy Commission's recommendation that it should be simplified. Details will be made available as soon as possible. [More]

The Rural Enterprise Scheme

The Rural Enterprise Scheme aims to provide target assistance to support the development of more sustainable diversified, enterprising rural economies and communities to assist their changing role of agriculture. As part of defra’s support for farm diversification activities, we are making available a land use planning feasibility study to those farmers who intend to pursue a viable diversification project under the Rural Enterprise Scheme . Projects range from the marketing of agricultural produce to converting piggeries into a nusery. [More]

Photo showing an Energy Crops supported power station

The Energy Crops Scheme

Energy crops are used to produce heat and/or electricity. They are carbon-neutral and therefore, as a substitute for fossil fuels, can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable energy generation. They are a new opportunity for rural areas.

The Energy Crops Scheme provides establishment grants for two energy crops, short-rotation coppice and miscanthus, and aid to help short rotation coppice growers set up producer groups. [More]

The Processing and Marketing Grant

The Processing and Marketing Grant is aimed at developing processing facilities for primary agricultural products in England, to benefit processors and the producers of the raw material. It is open to individuals, groups of primary producers and companies. Grants are awarded towards the construction of new buildings, the refurbishment of old buildings and the purchase of new equipment. [More]

The Hill Farm Allowance

Hill Farm Allowance (HFA) is a compensatory allowance for beef and sheep farmers in the English Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) in recognition of the difficulties they face and the vital role they play in maintaining the landscape and rural communities of the uplands. Payments are made annually in March. The budget varies each year - in 2004 it amounts to £34.8 million HFA is administered by the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) on behalf of Defra.

This year Defra is undertaking a mid-term review of HFA. A public consultation was completed on 31st July. Responses from the consultation have been summarised and have been published on the Defra website, as well as being available from the Defra library. Recommendations were put to Ministers in October 2003 on the future of LFA support. Ministers are in the process of finalising options for the future of LFA support. Modifications to HFA will be submitted to the Commission for approval in March 2004.

Rural Development

Welcome to the England Rural Development Programme